Mike,
I think that your best bet for the front is the GT6 springs. they are designed
for the weight of the 6 cyl and provide a good ride for
the street. the rear depends on who you believe (no I won't go there again).
My preference is the fixed spring from the Spit Mk3 and
a camber compensator.
On my race car, I used gt6 front springs with a coil removed. It achieved
adequate lowering as did the de-arched rear spring. The
SPAX shocks provide an adjustable ride. I started with mine set at the firmest
position. And man is it stiff. After I get a few runs
in it, I may soften it up a bit.
Joe
"Michael D. Nugent, Ph.D." wrote:
>
> NOTE: This is not an invitation to renew the endless debate about which
> design is superior - we've done that. I would like the group's input on
> spring choices I need to make, though.
>
> My goals:
> 1) No worse ride than a stock Spitfire (this car will not see
> competition so ultimate handling is not a concern - besides, we're OLD),
> and
> 2) front ride height the same as the rear (a lot of Spitfires appear to
> sit about 1.5" lower in the rear).
>
> Parts I have to choose from:
> Front coils from either the '68 Spitfire or the '73 GT6, and either a
> rear leafspring from the '68 Spitfire or rear swingspring from the '73
> GT6. The GT6 front swaybar will be used regardless, as will aluminum
> wheels.
>
> My thoughts:
> 1) The Spitfire coils aren't designed for the weight of the GT6 engine,
> so the front would ride lower with them and the ride would be softer
> (both okay by me as long as it doesn't bottom out on speed bumps).
> 2) The GT6 swingspring might be too stiff for the lighter Spitfire body,
> so the Spitfire leafspring seems to be preferable (if the early spring
> is used, it would supplemented with a camber compensator for safety).
>
> My questions:
> 1) Are there any known problems with using the Spitfire coils on the
> front of a Spitfire 6?
> 2) Is there any difference in eye-to-eye length of the early Spitfire
> leaf spring versus the post-Rotoflex GT6 swingspring? The reason I'm
> asking is that if they are different lengths, I'd get different amounts
> of camber (a shorter length spring would pull the wheel upright tops
> inward). I realize there is a difference in axle lengths, but my
> understanding is that any axle length can be used with any spring type.
>
> Out of bounds:
> I know I can buy adjustable spring perch Spax shocks for $300 which
> would let me dial in front ride height, but I'd rather not if there is a
> less expensive alternative. Similarly, I know I can have new springs
> made (or the current ones modified) to my specs, but I wouldn't know
> what specs I want, so let's not go there, either. And finally, I weigh
> about 230 (consider that a given), and my wife (with her necessary
> stuff, her "might need it" stuff, and her "as long as there's room"
> stuff) adds another 140. Assume standard temperature and barometric
> pressure. . . .
>
> Given all that, whatchathink?
>
> --
> Mike
> Renton, WA
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